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y�c vpi f4O�'t ys+o- <br />rAh 4F 5'.Y� S� <br />City of Sunny Isles Beach <br />18070 Collins Avenue <br />Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160 <br />(305) 947-0606 City Hall <br />(305) 949-3113 Fax <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners <br />VIA: Stan Morris, City Manager <br />FROM: Edward Santiago, Chief of Police <br />DATE: January 16, 2025 <br />RE: Expend LETF Funds to Create a Drone as First Responder Program <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Staff recommends approval of this Resolution. <br />REASONS: <br />The City Manager continues to challenge the Police Department to leverage the latest technology to <br />find innovative ways to keep the residents and visitors of Sunny Isles Beach safe. We are seeking <br />approval to utilize Department of Justice forfeiture funds to purchase a drone as first responder <br />program from Axon for $204,103.00. In addition the Police Department is seeking approval to add an <br />additional $30,000.00 in contingency money for the project. This program will include the purchase and <br />installation of a drone nest on the roof of the Government Center. The nest will house a drone that can <br />be launched from the Police Communications Center without an operator needing to visually see the <br />drone. The operator will have the ability to fly the drone from the Communications Center by directing <br />it to areas in the city on a map using the existing Hiperwall. The drone will fly autonomously to the <br />location and allow first responders to live stream video and record when needed to different platforms. <br />Most times the drone will beat first responders to a location and the information being collected will be <br />crucial to an enhanced response. The drones are being operated on a 5G network using artificial <br />intelligence that has obstacle avoidance. <br />There are a multitude of different calls for service the drone can be used for to assist our officers. Florida <br />State Statutes dictate when the drones can be used and for what type of police responses. The program <br />will include applying to the FAA for approval to be able to operate the drone without a visual observer. <br />Additionally it will include the requisite training for our operators and will also include a representative <br />from Axon being present for 100 hours to ensure successful launch to the program. <br />Item Number: 9.1) <br />214 <br />